Man allegedly left intoxicated sister beaten, unconscious in a ditch

CHURCH HILL — A Kingsport man accused last week of giving his underage sister liquor and then leaving her beaten and unconscious in a ditch near Church Hill appeared in a Hawkins County courtroom Monday.

Jason Lonnie Salyer, 24, 493 Gravely Road, Kingsport, was arraigned in Hawkins County Sessions Court on charges including domestic assault, contributing to the delinquency of a minor and public intoxication.

Shortly after 11 p.m. Thursday, HCSO Deputy Kevin Johnson responded to a complaint of a fight at the intersection of Wallen Town Road and Carters Valley Road.

Upon his arrival, Johnson spoke to two witnesses who stated Salyer had beaten up his 18-year-old sister, who was located unconscious and smelling of alcohol in the ditch at 116 Wallen Town Road.

Johnson stated in his report that the sister had injuries to her face, including a swollen nose, swollen left eye, swelling to her forehead and redness to her left ear. She was transported by ambulance to the Holston Valley Medical Center emergency room.

Johnson then made contact with Salyer, who also reportedly smelled of alcohol, and was described by Johnson as “irate” and “unsteady on his feet.”

Although he had visible injuries, Salyer denied assaulting his sister, stating that she was drunk and fell in the ditch.

Salyer stated he’d been in a fight with a male who was among the witnesses to whom Johnson spoke at the scene.

Although the sister couldn’t be awakened at the hospital to give a statement, a witness stated that Salyer had given her liquor.

Based on the witness statements, Johnson determined there was probable cause to charge Salyer with domestic assault and contributing to the delinquency of a minor, along with public intoxication.